NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The sickly Risso's dolphin that beached itself on New Smyrna Beach has died, officials at SeaWorld Orlando confirmed this morning despite Friday's heroic effort by a small group of beach-goers to rescue and care for it at water's edge.

It really came down to a heads or tails guess on whether the dolphin would survive.

The dolphin died shortly after a.m. at Cetacean Rehabilitation Facility operated by SeaWorld.

A necropsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death, but those results could take eight to 10 weeks, official said.

"At the rehabilitation center, SeaWorld vets and animal experts quickly assessed the dolphin's condition, performed an ultrasound and lowered the animal into the pool," SeaWorld spokesman Nick Gollattscheck said.

Friday's heroic efforts by half a dozen firs responders, including Nicole Carni, director of the Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority and NSB Visitor's Center, drew several hundred onlookers to the scene just south of the Third Avenue ramp approach for some five hours after the 10-foot deep-sea dolphin was discovered in ankle-deep water just after 11:30 a.m.

"I'm upset, I'm saddened that he didn't make, but that is the natural progression of life," Carni said. "I do have faith in God that this is the plan."

Carni said she sat down her son, Allario, after getting the news and he was upset, but understood as much as a 6-year-old can in this situation. His pet hamster died a week ago so he shed a few tears again, she said.

The 400-pound deep-sea dolphin was nicknamed "Scrappy" by a beach goer who took note of the mammals massive scarring and several small shark bites, none of these unusual for marine animals his size and in his habitat, said Megan Stolen, a biologist with SeaWorld.

Based on the worn-down look in his teeth he was an older male, she said, and likely drifted too far in when he became weak from lack of food. Risso's dolphins rarely venture within 50 miles of the coastline and swim in pods of several to as many as two dozen.

The dolphin had no visible signs of external injuries, but could have suffered an internal organ infection or shutdown from parasites, she said. 

SeaWorld arrived on the beach just after 4:30 p.m. with as large transport truck equipped with an enclosed pool for the transport back to Orlando.

The dolphin beaching is a rare sight and certainly something that caused quite a stir on the beach.

"This was something that showed how much the community cares," Carni said of the experience, having returned from Canaveral National Seashore as a chaperone with her son's class at Samsula Academy when they heard of the dolphin washing up and decided to check it. She jumped right in with the rescue efforts, helping to ferry buckets of water from the surf and helping with an IV to keep mammal hydrated.

At one point, the dolphin swung its tail and whacked her right arm. Despite the pain, she stayed with the job at hand. She went to the Halifax Hospital in Port Orange Friday night for a swollen elbow, which the doctor advised her to keep in a sling for three weeks. She also suffered sunburning on her upper body and face.

Still, she was overwhelmed by the experience.

"I was hoping the dolphin was going to make it and I know that everyone did their best."